Holland, Michigan City Guide: 13 Family Friendly Activities

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On our recent road trip exploring Michigan, we stopped in popular Holland, located in the south western part of the Lower Peninsula, near Lake Macatawa.

posing by the windmill at Windmill Island Gardens in Holland, MI

The land now known as Holland was originally home to the Anishnaabek people (made up of the Ottawa, Chippewa, and Potawatomi tribes). In the early 1800s, the tribes created the Black Lake area. In 1847, 53 settlers from the Netherlands came to the area to start a new colony and to seek protection from religious persecution. The Dutch settlers took over the Ottawa village while the native Indians had left for other seasonal grounds; when they returned in the fall, they found their village destroyed and the settlers rehomed there. The Anishnaabek people later moved north to the Leelanau Peninsula. The settlers built the area now known as Holland into a successful agricultural port that included what is now Hope College. The area even overcame the 1871 Great Chicago Fire, rebuilding the city and growing its many manufacturing factories. The concept of Tulip Time was created in the early 20th century and is known worldwide for the thousands of tulips that come to life every spring throughout the city.

We LOVED our visit to Holland; the city is so welcoming with its friendly people; easy to navigate (and park!) roads, accessibility to shops, dining, and attractions; and proud heritage on display in just about every attraction and site. This week, on the blog, we’re sharing some of our highlights and travel tips:

display of dutch wooden shoes outside in Holland, MI

Planning a Visit: Holland has been on my list for a while, but for all of my research and planning, I went to Holland.com. The Discover Holland Visitors Bureau does a wonderful, thorough job with sharing information on everything from activities to dining to special events on its website and in its annual Visitors Guide (I love places that still have, and mail, print copies!). The Discover Holland team also has a welcome center downtown on East 8th Street with helpful staff and tons of print materials, open seven days a week. 

Bonus:  There are many festivals held in Holland throughout the year and the biggest of all is the Tulip Time Festival. Learn more about the Tulip Tim Festival here.

Holland Visitor Center in downtown Holland, MI

Getting around town: We found it easy to drive around town and found free parking all around town- even in busy summer months. Maybe downtown locations are also walkable. See more information about getting to Holland here and helpful maps of the downtown area here, public parking here, biking through Holland (there are over 150 miles of trails!) and the surrounding areas here, and ADA Accessible parking here.
Fun Bonus: During the winter, six downtown miles are warmed by underground piping and melt the snow- no shoveling or plowing needed!

Staying in Town: There are plenty of hotel options all around Holland. We are partial to Marriott properties and enjoyed our stay at the Residence Inn Holland; the hotel was updated, clean, and included a good breakfast each morning. Another option centrally located to the downtown area is the Courtyard Holland Downtown.  See a good index of lodging options here. 

Eating in Town: There is a restaurant, cafe, quick service, or fine dining option for every palate and appetite; see a great index of dining options from Discover Holland here and Downtown Holland here with a printable list here. We LOVED our full breakfast at Bowerman’s on 8th (they’re open all day and we could have easily eaten three meals and snacks there!), lunches at Hops at 84 East (tons of options and a kids menu-get the Unicorn drink!), and Mezkla (for tacos), and dinner at Seventy-Six (delicious farm to table options and friendly staff). Make sure to stop by Cherry Republic for samples of homemade cherry everything and take home chocolate covered cherries, and other cherry sweet and savory treats. 

13 Family Friendly Activities in Holland:

  1. Watch Delftware being painted in the DeKlomp Velheer Factory. Wooden shoes were preferable in the Netherlands in the 1300s. Leather would get wet and rot; wood was inexpensive, long lasting, and warm, and wood absorbs perspiration, so wooden shoes became popular. The Delftware Factory opened in 1972 and still sells over 400 items made in the factory on site.However, the machines used to make wooden shoes on site are over 100 years old, and the company does not currently offer demonstrations of wooden shoes making; they now import shoes from the Netherlands. The factory has over 700 molds (purchased from factories in the Netherlands). Delft is a type of pottery first produced in the city of Delft in the Netherlands and is easily recognizable by its blue and white color. Visitors can watch the firing of the pottery in the kiln room and the hand painting.
    Kids will love picking out a souvenir and watching the artists paint.
    Travel Tips: The warehouse is open most days from 10am-4pm; free to visit and free parking in front of the warehouse; restrooms located inside the warehouse; plenty of items available for purchase; bring the stroller to contain the toddler crowd from touching breakable items.
  2. Walk the 239 steps up the dune on Mount Pishag to see views of Lake Macatawa, Lake Michigan, and the Big Red Lighthouse.There are 29 deck and landing levels, and six benches on levels throughout the path to rest. Back at the base, walk the Black Lake Boardwalk West to the marina and Kayaky launch, and eventually, Holland State Park.
    Kids will love outpacing the adults on the climb!
    Travel Tips: The park is free to visit and open from 7am until 8pm in the fall and winter and 10pm spring and summer; no restroom facilities on site but further down the road; free two hour parking is available in the lot at Black Lake Boardwalk- East at the intersection of Ottawa Beach Road and Black Lake Road. (cross the street and walk towards the store and the entrance is across the street); plan on 45-60 minutes to explore.
posing with a collection of Dutch shoes in Holland, MI

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Mount Pishag in Holland, MIchigan
  1. Enjoy the beach at Holland State Beach and look for the “Big Red” Lighthouse. To get up close to the lighthouse (no one is allowed inside), walk the beach’s north pier. The expansive, sandy beach has tons of space to spread out and enjoy the cool lake waters. There are also two campgrounds, picnic tables, fire pits and grills, sports courts, and a pier for fishing. The Macatawa Boathouse rents kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards.
    Travel Tips: The beach is typically open starting at 10am; parking is $8 per vehicle; walkers are allowed in for free; restroom and washroom facilities and concessions available; see a good map of the complex here.
    Bonus: Get more information on State Parks and Beaches here and water sports here. Kollen Park is another super kid friendly spot with a huge playground, restroom facilities, free parking, plenty of shaded picnic tables and a great view of Lake Macatawa.
  2. Tour the Pump House Museum, part of the Ottawa Historic Beach Society. The building was originally an Edison electric lighting plant for Hotel Ottawa. It was built in 1901 but was destroyed by a fire in 1923 and then the building was turned into a water pump house. Later it was restored as a museum and opened to the public in 2018. The museum displays the original Deming Triplex water pump and also has exhibits about the history of the boating and fishing industries, and prominent local residents.
    Kids will love the kid’s corner with hands on activities.
    Travel Tips: The museum is free to visit and is open June through Labor Day Wednesday through Saturday; restrooms just outside the museum (and open with extended hours); free two hour parking is available in Black Lake Boardwalk East; plan on 30-45 minutes to explore exhibits.
  1. Watch a tree log be turned into several bowls of varying shapes and sizes at the Holland Bowl Mill. The 120 year old, fourth generation family company is now the world’s largest manufacturing of solid wood bowls, producing up to 1,000 bowls each week, in addition to everything from decorative trees, kitchen utensils, wine glasses, and started in 1926  and now has 22 employees. The company prides itself on using only reclaimed, locally harvested wood from tree services, so no tree is ever cut down specifically for the company. The Holland Bowl Mill is also a zero waste company (they even send the saw dust to local farms for animals!) and uses resin in the knots of some wood to complete a bowl. Visits to the Mill include a short video segment produced by the Discovery Channel and a 15 minute tour of the factory to see every step of the process from carving, shaping, drying, finishing, and engraving and branding.
    Kids will love taking home a sample of saw dust and seeing the carvers at work.
    Travel Tips: The mill is open Monday-Saturday and is free to visit and take a short tour; large gift shop with a variety of items at various price points; plenty of free parking in front of the factory; restroom facilities on site; plan 45 minutes to visit and take a tour. 
  2. Climb four stories inside the DeZwann windmill at Windmill Island Gardens. The gardens, which opened to the public in 1965, has the only remaining authentic working Dutch windmill in America, as well as a four column street organ, a German carousel, and dozens of gardens and historic exhibits. The May Tulip Time Festival is a very popular annual tradition, with hundreds of thousands of tulips blooming across the property.
    Kids will love riding the carousel, exploring the playground, and listening to the organ.
    Travel Tips: The gardens are open mid April through mid October seven days a week; plenty of free parking; restrooms, gift shops, and dining options on site; bring the stroller for the toddler crew; see the property map here; plan on 2-3 hours to fully explore the complex
    See our full feature here.
  • posing by the windmill at Windmill Island Gardens in Holland, MI
  1. Enjoy amusement park rides and pet goats, alpacas, bunnies, and in the petting farm at Nelis’ Dutch Village. A recreated Dutch village with dozens of buildings and attractions, Nelis’ welcomes families with a variety of rides (best suited for the preschool and elementary age group, but fun for all!), daily performances and shows, and special programs. There are several food shops which offer samples of cheese, fudge, and chocolates and even cooking classes.
    Kids will love ALL of the rides, but especially the Zweefmolen and Pirate Balloon Battle when it’s super hot outside, visiting with animals in the Dutch Barn, and sampling chocolate and cheese in the shops.
    Travel Tips: The Dutch Village is open June through August seven days a week and some fall weekends; plenty of free parking in front of the park; lots of dining and shopping options inside the park; bring the stroller for the toddler crew; see the property map here; plan on 3-4 hours to fully explore the park.
    See our full feature here. 
  1. Learn all about the history of Holland and its many Medal of Honor recipients at the Holland Museum. Housed in the former 20th century Holland Post Office, the two story museum has exhibits that showcase important industries in Holland over two centuries: agriculture, manufacturing, and lakeshore industries. There are also displays celebrating various religions and cultures of the community, as well as a collection of art work, textiles, and furniture dating back to the 17th century.
    Kids will love the Spark! Lab with STEM focused activities, hands-on arts projects, and experiments.
    Travel Tips: The museum is open Thursday through Monday; free parking in the lot behind the museum; restroom facilities and a gift shop near admissions; see the calendar of events here; plan on 1-2 hours to explore the exhibits.
  2. Walk through Centennial Park and find the 10 foot by 12 foot reproduction of the cover of The Wizard of Oz made from thousands of plants and flowers. The display honors L. Frank Baum, author of the famous novel, who spent summers in nearby Laka Macatawa writing parts of the story.  It blooms all spring and summer and it moved to a nearby greenhouse during colder winter months for protection. The five acre Centennial Park also has a traditional Dutch fountain, fish pond, and well maintained flower gardens.
    Kids will love getting up close to the six life size statues of Dorothy and Toto, the Wicked Witch, the Lion, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and a tree with a flying monkey outside of the Herrick District Library, located across the street.
    Travel Tips: Centennial Park and Herrick District Library are free to visit; Centennial Park is open 24-7; free parking on the streets surrounding the park and in the library parking lot; plan on 30-40 minutes to walk through the park and exhibit.

posing in Centennial Park in Holland, MI in front of the garden dedicated to the Wizard of Oz

Bonus Spots-  We did not have time to visit these kid friendly locations, but we heard great things about:

  1. Cappon House and Settlers House: The 1874 Cappon House shares the affluent life of Holland’s first mayor, Isaac Cappon, and his 16 children. The Settlers House, built in 1867, has been home to over 15 families for the past 150 years. It was restored after the Great Holland Fire, to show what a working class home looked like in the late 19th century.
  2. The Holland Aquatics Center: Open to the public, the 130,000+ square foot facility includes a lazy river, water slide, and separate kids pool play area. There’s also a fitness center, indoor track, and separate metered pools for various classes and lessons. 
  3. The DeGraaf Nature Center and Outdoor Discovery Center: Free to visit, the 16 acre preserve includes several hiking trails, over a dozen species of reptiles and amphibians to look out for, a cultural center, birds of prey center, wildlife exhibit,  and outdoor playground.
  4. The Hemlock Crossing and Nature Center: Located about 15 minutes north of downtown Holland, Hemlock Crossing has over 200 acres of wetlands along the Pigeon River. There are hiking trails, a pedestrian bridge, and canoe/kayak launch to explore. The Nature Center has indoor and outdoor exhibits, as well as an observatory. 

Looking for other adventures in Michigan? See our index of features here and follow along on our adventures on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest.

Disclosure: We were given passes to some of the attractions on this list with the support of Discover Holland. All opinions expressed are my own.

New England based, part high school English teacher, part non profit founder, part road tripper who LOVES hopping in the family SUV to explore America. Our bucket list includes National Parks, MLB stadiums, presidential libraries, and eating wherever the locals eat!

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